I am planning to take them for I am very much interested. I was wondering where is it better to take them, in the US or India, I am going to India for winter break [a month] and all of my summer [may-aug] I want to start out in India in Dec and then start here in US when i get back..and so forth.
What are the price ranges usually like in India [rupees] and here in the US [dollars]? I am going to be paying for the classes myself. Thanks for your help!
Harshna,
it is indeed very good that you are planning take Indian vocal lessons both in India and US.
Indian vocal music has many different types; you need to be first clear on which one you want to learn:
a) Indian Classical
b) Indian Light Music
Classical can be further divided broadly into at least three major types – Hindustani music (of North India), Carnatic music (of the south India) and there is also the Rabindra Sangeet of the east (Bengal).
Light music is mainly the film songs or the Bollywood music.
Depending on your interest and also the availability of suitable teachers in US near your place, you may want to choose which of these you really want to learn.
If you learn Classical music, it is not difficult to learn the light music as well; but the vice versa is not always easy.
Perhaps you want to first determine which of the three types is available in US, and suitably look for a master of that music when you are india. When in India, try for intensive coaching i.e. almost everdyday class of about half hour or one hour. Of course, this will have to be followed by about another one hour of practice, if you want to learn music seriously.
In India, depending on the type of master and how talented, in demand and is classified (usually by All India Radio) as A grade, B grade etc., their fee will also vary. But you should be able to get a reasonably good master at about Rs. 1000 a month for a master, who would take say about 30 hours of class over a month. Since you would possibly go as a NRI, it could go up to say even Rs. 2000.
When you come back to US, the fee will be in the range of US dollars 30 to 50 per class (if the teacher is formally recognised and is allowed to work and earn in this country). If they do it as a side source of income, the fee is often negotiable. Once you are in US, you might normally shift to 4 or 8 classes a month and that could cost you about 100 to 200 dollars a month.
I hope these are helpful hints. Happy learning.